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To elaborate... Technically, in DC, e-bikes are not allowed on any trail. In Virginia, there is debate on whether or not an e-bike is considered a motor vehicle and therefore not allowed on the trails. I have no idea about Maryland laws, because, well... Maryland.

In practice though, as long as you are safe, courteous, and not a jerk, no one will say anything about you riding an e-bike (or any other sort of bike) on the trails around here.

In Virginia, there is debate on whether or not an e-bike is considered a motor vehicle and therefore not allowed on the trails.

So in Virginia, it's clear they are NOT motor vehicles and VA law allows them on trails; the debate is whether ArlCo (most trails; almost certainly not), NVRPA (W&OD Trail; pretty definitely not), or NPS (Mt Vernon Trail; probably) can have a different law. Not that it matters.

Some of the rules are debatable, and hozn is right that they are underenforced regardless. But the safest thing to do is not ride an ebike. Can't go wrong.

Being a (mostly) law-abiding, rule-following type I guess I'll continue to bring my Trucker on the Amtrak. Seems like the DC Metro area is no further along than anywhere else in determining the placement of this particular mode of transportation. Thanks, everyone, for your responses and suggestions. See y'all on the road/trail sometime.